JQuest @ Shaare Emeth

Pre-K*, Kindergarten and 1^st Grade

JQuest @ Shaare Emeth is a joyful start to Jewish learning for “Jew-ish” families with young children (Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st Grade). This learning adventure is a developmentally appropriate program that builds upon parent-child co-learning experiences and is open to the entire community, without barriers to participation.

With the generosity of the Louis and Pauline Krasner Fund, we are able to make JQuest tuition-free for every single child. A materials fee (details on the right) is the only cost for this incredible experience. With no obligation to membership or paying tuition, this is our gift to the children and families of the St. Louis Jewish community.

JQuest will be made up of weekly Sunday morning programming just for kids, led by an amazing team of educators, as well as Family & Me co-learning experiences 3-4 times per year. These family gatherings will bring parents and guardians together with their children for fun, creative Jewish experiences they can do together. It might be a trip to the planetarium to learn how the Jewish calendar relies on the moon and stars, baking challah, a parent discussion on mindfulness, or a project about favorite family stories. Shaare Emeth clergy join for these experiences so parents and children can build relationships with them in these smaller groups. We can’t wait for you to join us for this unique, totally fun, and accessible program!

We believe that parents of diverse Jewish backgrounds possess a desire to raise their children to be good, compassionate people grounded in strong values. They may choose to be members of a synagogue, or they might be unaffiliated at this stage of their journey. Whatever path they are on, they want their children to know Jewish traditions and stories and to begin to discover the joy of their heritage. We also know that at the time their children reach Pre-K or the early elementary years, they may not be ready to make a commitment to attending traditional “religious school.” This is our inspiration for JQuest @ Shaare Emeth!

*Our PreK program is open to children who are fully potty-trained and plan to start kindergarten the following year. For the 2026-27 school year, this includes children born on or before July 31, 2022 who plan to start kindergarten in Fall 2027. Please contact Emily Cohen if you have any questions about enrollment.

Ready to Register?

Questions?

Materials Fees

Pre-K: $60
Kindergarten: $75
1st Grade: $110

Schedule

Sunday Schedule

Sundays • 9–11 a.m.

ABOUT

Leanne & Harvey Schneider

2026 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Harvey and Leanne Schneider have devoted their lives to strengthening both the Jewish and broader St. Louis communities through leadership, service, education, and a deep commitment to bringing people together.

A St. Louis native, Harvey Schneider attended local public schools before earning both his undergraduate business degree and law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Following graduation, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he served as a trial attorney in the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. After five years of federal service, he returned to St. Louis and became a partner in private law practice. Over a legal career spanning more than five decades, Harvey represented family-owned businesses and private individuals in a wide range of business matters.

Harvey’s commitment to civic and Jewish communal life has been equally extensive. He has served as President of Congregation Shaare Emeth, the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis, the Central Agency for Jewish Education, the Little Symphony Concerts Association, and the Forever Young Club at the Missouri Athletic Club. In addition, he dedicated 26 years to public service on the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Town and Country, including three years as chairman.

After graduating from Washington University, Leanne Schneider spent a year studying in France. Upon her return to St. Louis, she became deeply involved in international student exchange programs, first with the Experiment in International Living and later with AFS, fostering cross-cultural understanding and lifelong connections among people of different backgrounds. This commitment to building bridges naturally extended to her involvement with the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis.

Leanne also taught French and Spanish at Brittany Junior High School before she and Harvey started their family. Throughout the years, she has shared her passion for education and community service by tutoring New Americans through the English Language School, serving on Congregation Shaare Emeth’s first Caring Committee, and volunteering as a reader with Ready Readers. Today, she continues to nurture her love of learning and literature through a book club that includes many members of Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Together, Harvey and Leanne have exemplified a lifetime of generosity, service, and leadership. Their dedication to education, interfaith understanding, civic engagement, and Jewish communal life has enriched countless lives throughout St. Louis. They are the proud parents of three children and grandparents of four, and their enduring legacy continues to inspire future generations.

JQuest @ Shaare Emeth